Cultivator.



, Patented May 27,1902. J. B. BAnTHoLoMEwY.

cuLTlvATon. (Application led Feb. 16, 1897.)

(No Model.)

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UNiTnp STnTns FnTnNT OFFICE.

JOHN B. BARTHOLOMEW, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO AVERY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF P FORIA, ILLINOIS.

CU LTIVATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 701,005, dated May 27, 1902.

Application filed Iebruary 16, 1897. SerialNo.' 623,661. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom t may concern,.-

Beit known that I, JOHNB. BARTHOLOMEW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cultivators; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure l is a longitudinal section of a portion of a cultivator su'flicientto illustrate the manner of applying my improvements.- Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of a part of the axle and showing in such elevation the lifting-levers and parts of the standard. Fig. 3 shows part of a lifting mechanism for illustrating the movements of the lever and spring when the plow-beam moves to points below the ordinary working` position.

In the drawings I have'illustrated the parts embodying vention as being combined with a cultivator of one of the now more or less common forms.

A indicates one of the ground-wheels.

B indicates the axle, it having spindles at Z9, upwardly-extending arms b', and a crossbar b2. The horizontal part of the main frame is formed of side bars, such as thatindicated by C, and a suitable number of cross-bars, as at c c/ c2, this frame resting upon the crossbar b2 of the axle and having the tongue D secured to it at the front end. The crankaxle B is held in rigid relation to the frame by inclined braces C. The cross-bar at c is preferably turned down at the end, as shown at c3, for the purpose of supporting the attachments at E, to which the front upwardlyturned ends f of the plow-beams or drag-bars F are pivoted. The latter extend Vbackward under the axle B to points in the rear of the Wheel-axis and their rear ends are arranged so that they can be adjusted by the driver while riding in the seat at G. However, it will be understood that with respect t0 the parts above described there can be variation-that is to say, with respect to the form of the axle,

the essential features of the inthe main frame, the tongue, the plow-beams, and attachments-as the parts constituting the invention can be applied to any of many forms'of machine.

In a cultivator of this classit is well known that it is desirable, first, that the beams can be very easily adjusted by the driver while riding and by using his feet in loops or stirrups secured to them, and, secondly, that the lateral motions of the beam should be in planes as nearly parallel to the surface of the ground as possible. For this purpose I pivot to thebeams near their rear ends standards H, there being, preferably, one for each beam. These extend to points considerably above the horizontal plane of the axle-bar h2. At

their upper ends they are connected to levers I, which are pivotally connected at suitable points tothe main frame, either to its side bars O or to its cross-axle bar b2, the latter arrangement being the oneillustrated. Each lever I is connected to a spring J, so arranged as to assist in lifting up the beam and in holding it in the elevated position and so that when the plows or shovels are at work but little, if any, lifting action will be exerted. In fact, I prefer tovso arrange the spring and its attachments in relation to the lever I and the standard II that when the plows are normally at work they shall not be subjected at all to the tension or lifting action of the springs, although at the Sametime the operator can instantly and with but little force throw thebeams below 0r above the line at whichthe spring action is mi.

As shown, the lever carries one or more backwardly-extending arms or ears t', and to such arm or arms there is pivoted a lever or bar K, which in turn is connected at its front end to the spring J. In order to have the lever or bar K freely move through the desired path, I prefer at present to deiect the lever I laterally at its lower end and'secure thereto a correspondingly-deflected bar I. The two are pivoted at i2 to ears` or carriers secured to the axle or frame. The fulcrum at t2 is the main pivot or fulcrum of the beam lifting and controlling devices. This provides a free space in the central vertical plane of the lever for the application of the spring and the bar K. The same end can be attained by bifurcating the lower end of the lever, or, again, two springs side by side can be employed and arranged to exert draft along the sides of a single central lever. In fact, numerous Ways of carrying out this part of the invention will readily suggest themselves.

By examining Fig. 1 it will be seen that when the parts (including the standard I-I, the lever I, 85o.) are in the positions shown by the full lines in said figure the shovels or plows will move along their normal horizontal path, and it will be also seen that the pivotal points at i3, t2, j, and are in or near a straight line. Because of the latter fact the lifting action of the spring is m'l or greatly reduced, and there is but little, if any, tend ency to draw upward on the beam F. Consequently the beam is free, so that the shovels shall continue to work properly and so that the driver can adjust them laterally as he nds necessary and can do so without interference from the springs; but should he desire to elevate the beam to bring the shovels to the inactive position shown by the upper dotted lines in Fig. 1 he has to merely exert a slight lift upon the handle at L until the pivot-point i3 gets somewhat above the line from the pivots 2(7', for thereafter the spring begins to exert its full force and to draw the standard H and the lever I into the positions shown by the front dotted lines in Fig. 1 that is to say, the spring can be so arranged as to effect practically all of the lifting after the instant of starting by the driver and so as to hold the parts in the elevated position for transportation or other purposes. Again, by examining Fig. 3 in connection with Fig. 1 it will be seen that when the parts are in their Working position the lever or bar K rests upon some part of the frame or axle, which provides for it a fulcrum. Consequently the driver can, if he sees fit, push the beam to a lower line, as shown by the lower dotted lines in Fig. 1, as when he wishes to plow deeper or for other purposes; In other words, although there is a line at which the plow can be considered as held lnormally rigid it is possible to throw it slightly from that line without releasing it from the spring. The spring will tend to draw it from the lowermost position to the normal one. The driver, utilizing his feet and the spring, can therefore readily place the points of the shovels upon the desired line. It will be further seen that each beam is entirely independent of the other, so that they can be bothV swung inward or both outward or eitherindependently of the other, as desired.

What I claim is- 1. In a cultivator, the combination with the lframe and the plow-beam having its rear end vertically adjustable and swinging laterally, of a lever having a fulcrum on and extending upward from said frame, means for suspending the beam from the upper part of said 1ever, and alon gitudinally-extended forwardlyacting spring connected with the frame and with said lever at the rear of said fulcrum and acting substantially in line with said fulcrum when the beam is in working position.

2. In a cultivator, the combination of the main frame, the plow-beam curved or extended upward at the front end and pivoted to the main frame in a relatively high horizontal plane, the rear end of the beam being vertically adjustable and adapted to swing laterally, the relatively long standard pivoted to the rear end of the beam and extended to points above the main frame, the lever pivoted to the main frame and extending to the upper end of the standard and flexibly connected thereto, and the horizontally-arranged spring having one end rigidly secured to the main frame at a fixed point in front of the lever, and the other end secured to a bar which is connected to the lever, said vparts .being arranged substantially as set forth, to

have the beam relieved of the tension of the spring when the shovels are in their normal working positions, substantially as set forth.

3. In a cultivator the combination of the main frame, the shovel-beam pivotally connected with the frame and having its rear end adapted to swing vertically and laterally, the spring rigidly secured to the front part of the main frame and extending horizontally backward therefrom, a hinged lifting-lever extending upward from an axis on the main frame a connection between said lever and the beam, a bar interposed between the spring and the lifting-lever and connected with the lever in rear of its axis, and a stop for said bar arranged to bear against it when the shovels are in their normal working positions, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the main frame, the bar or standard H, pivotally connected to the beam, the bar or lever I pivoted on an axis on the main frame and extending directly upward from its axis and pivotally connected at its upper end to the bar H, one or more arms, t', extending backward from said bar or lever I, the 'spring J secured to the front part of the main frame and extending horizontally backward therefrom, the bar K connected to the spring and extending backward beyond the axis of the lever, I, and pivotally connected to the backward-extending arm or arms, t, and a stop for the downward move-` ment of the bar K, substantially as set forth.

5. In a cultivator, the combination of the `main frame, the beam pivotally-connected to the frame and having its rear end adapted to swing both laterally and vertically, a lever I, means connecting said lever to the rear end of the beam, the spring, the bar K between the spring and the lever adapted to lie in the line of the point of connection between the bar K and the lever I and the point of fastening for the spring, and a stop, as at b2, for the bar K, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with the main frame, the beam pivoted thereto and vertically ad- IOO IIO

justable, the lever I pivoted on the main frame and having an arm fi extending' rearward beyond its pivot, the standard connecting the rear part of the beam with the upper portion of the lever I, and a lifting-spring arranged substantially horizontally and connected with the said rearward-extending arm z', substantially as set forth.

7. In a cultivator, the combination of the main frame, the beam arranged to swing laterally and vertically, beam-suspending devices pivoted on said frame, and a spring acting continuouslyin a forward direction upon the beam-suspending devices and having its line of action, when the beam is in working position, in line with the pivots of said devices, and having its line of action when the beam is elevated on a line eccentric to the said pivot, substantially as set forth.

8. In a cultivator, the combination of the l maln frame, the beam arranged to swing laterally and vertically, beam-suspending devices pivoted on said frame, a spring acting continuously in a forward direction upon the beam-suspending devices and having its line of action, when the beam is in Working position, in line with the pivots of said devices, and having its line of action when the beam is elevated on a line eccentric to said pivot,

i and a stop for arresting the movement of the spring when in its first-inentioned position, substantially as set forth.

9. In a cultivator, the combination of the main frame, the beam arranged to swing laterally and vertically, beam-suspending devices pivoted on said frame, and comprising a lever pivoted on said frame and having an arm extending to the rear of the pivot, a spring acting continuously in a forward direction upon said arm and having its line of action when the beam is in working position near the line of the main pivot of said devices, and having its line of action when the beam is elevated on a line eccentric to said main pivot, and a stop for arresting the movement of the spring when in its first-mentioned position, substantially as set forth.

l0. In a cultivator, the combination of the frame, the beam, the beam-suspending devices pivoted to the frame, and a horizontallyarranged spring acting in one direction only disposed substantially as set forth in relation to the other parts, whereby it exerts tension upon the beam when below its normal working position to regulate the depth of the shovels and also upon the beam when above its normal working position, and a bar or lever actuated by the spring and adapted to relieve the suspending devices of the force of the spring when the beam is in its working position and to apply the force of the spring to the beam when it is elevated above or depressed below the normal working position, substantially as set forth.

ll. In a cultivator, the combination of the frame, the beam, the beam-suspending devices pivoted to the frame, the spring, a fulcrum, and the bar K connected to the spring and to the beam-suspending devices, and arranged to rest upon said fulcrum when the beam is in or near its normal working position and to lnove away from said fulcrum when the beam is remote from its working position, substantially as set forth.

12. In a cultivator the combination of a main frame, a plow-beam having its rear end vertically adjustable and swinging laterally, a lifting device attached to the beam, a horizontally-extended spring connected to the lifting device and extending forward from the same to a suitable point of attachment, such as the frame, and arranged to have its tension increased as the beam descends, and means for arresting the vertical movement of the spring when the beam is in or `near the working position.

13. In a cultivator, the combination of the main frame, the beam pivotally connected therewith and having its rear end adapted to i 4swing as described, lifting devices connected with the beam and fulcrumed on the frame, a bar or link connected with said lifting devices, a horizontally-extended lifting-spring connected with said bar and extending forward from the same to a suitable point of attachment, such as the frame, and a stop or fulcrum for said bar adapted to arrest it as the beam reaches its normal working position. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN B. BARTHOLOMEW. Witnesses:

HENRY C. ROBERTS, ELvAN M. Voonnnns. 

